Sheriff Hodgson: ‘People dying almost every day at hands of illegals’

By Michael Bonner The Standard-Times
Posted May 17, 2018 at 9:12 AM
Updated May 17, 2018 at 12:39 PM

Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson traveled to the nation’s capital Wednesday to voice support for the program that allows local law enforcement to partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson traveled to the nation’s capital Wednesday to voice support for the program that allows local law enforcement to partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Hodgson joined a panel that supported the 287g program, which through a partnership with ICE allows law enforcement authority for immigration enforcement within their jurisdictions.

“The amount of crimes that are happening, people are dying almost every day at the hands of illegals,” Hodgson said.

The Bristol County Sheriff didn’t provide any evidence linking Bristol County to that statement, though. He spoke of three deaths associated with illegal immigrants during a two-year span in Milford, which is in Worcester County.

“Letting (illegal immigrants) go back into the community after they have already been committing a crime domestically, then go out and victimize more people, it makes no sense,” Hodgson said. “We have to track them down.”

The timing of the panel falls on a week where the country is recognizing Police Week. Nathalie Asher, the deputy executive associate director of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations as well as two other sheriffs who support the program from Texas and Maryland also spoke on the panel.

It also coincided with a California Sanctuary State roundtable hosted by President Donald Trump later in the day. Trump said of illegal immigrant deportations, “You wouldn’t believe how bad these people are. These aren’t people. These are animals.”

Barnstable, Bristol and Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department participate in 287g. They are three of nearly 80 law enforcement agencies in 20 states that are enrolled in the program, Asher said.

In 2017, Asher said the program encountered 25,884 immigrants living illegally in the United States with 5,996 leading to deportations.

“I don’t know one citizen in this nation who has ever said, ‘I want law enforcement to have less tools than they otherwise would have to keep me safe,’” Hodgson said.

The media attending the panel asked Hodgson about any political pushback he’s received from the community regarding 287g.

“Oh sure. Not effective because the people are with us,” Hodgson said. “They want to be safe.”

Hodgson was sued last May by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice for records requested pertaining to the department’s affiliation with 287g.

Earlier this month, protesters gathered outside Plymouth County Correctional Facility demanding the release of Cuthbert Bonnie of New Bedford, who was detained as a result of 287g, according to advocates. According to ICE, Bonnie is from the Commonwealth of Dominica.

“ICE and police are working together in Plymouth County and across Massachusetts,” Arely Diaz of Alliance to Mobilize Our Resistance said in a statement about the protest.

The demonstration included a banner that read “Shame on Plymouth County.”

Bonnie remains in custody in Plymouth pending his removal from the United States, according to ICE.

Corrin Williams, the executive director of the Community Econcomic Development Center in New Bedford, said 287g is promoting more fear within in communities than it’s providing safety. She said it’s separating families and could prevent immigrants who witness crimes from alerting the authorities.

“It’s just not a proper use of resources,” Williams said. “And it really doesn’t amount to really strengthening our immigration system but casts a wide net on people who may be caught up in the court system and ... arrested on a minor charge.”